Commonwealth Games

[IanD]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Every time I watch the cycling (which for me is in the main the T de F) it always makes me wonder how the cyclists can have confidence in their surroundings.

Giving it their all without fear of someone stepping out in front of them, one of the support cars/tv crews knocking into them or stopping suddenly, a fellow competitor in a large bunch making a mistake bringing the whole pack down.... and all they have for protection is a polystyrene helmet! :yikes:

How close the guy was to serious injury. Someone I know well was watching just a few feet away from the crash. She said his helmet stayed on but his visor was ripped off. Also, he was lucky not to be impaled as a vertical part of the barrier snapped partly off and was left sticking up. A good recce of the course is needed but, as you imply, a dangerous sport given the speeds they go. Oh....Welsh dragon flags on display from at least three different people on that bend, too.

[The Bloop]

Re: Commonwealth Games

How close the guy was to serious injury. Someone I know well was watching just a few feet away from the crash. She said his helmet stayed on but his visor was ripped off. Also, he was lucky not to be impaled as a vertical part of the barrier snapped partly off and was left sticking up. A good recce of the course is needed but, as you imply, a dangerous sport given the speeds they go. Oh....Welsh dragon flags on display from at least three different people on that bend, too.

The visors are designed to detach. They are more dangerous if they stay attached and break. As for a course recce G rode the course the day before. Whether the barrier was in the same place the day before I don't know, but it did seem odd to me that the barrier was in the middle of the road when it could have been further over towards the other side.

Hope G manages to stay on his bike on Sunday now.

[IanD]

Re: Commonwealth Games

The visors are designed to detach. They are more dangerous if they stay attached and break. As for a course recce G rode the course the day before. Whether the barrier was in the same place the day before I don't know, but it did seem odd to me that the barrier was in the middle of the road when it could have been further over towards the other side.

Hope G manages to stay on his bike on Sunday now.

I saw his tweet re receeing the course. A case of "good luck with that"" (course). Some really challenging sections in Sedgley.....used to be my route to work. The roads were closed off from 5.15am on race day so any reccee would not have been able to follow the exact route. The A449 was closed off in both directions with the race heading north on the wrong side of the road. This was to allow pedestrian access and blue route, if needed. Oddly, armed police were parked just behind where the accident was.

[Dave Blue]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Kids were waving the Welsh flag proudly at the rhythmic gymnastics yesterday…despite there being no Welsh competitors.

Lots of bucket hats on display. English wife had a chuckle as a bucket-er walked passed, draped in a Welsh flag eating a tray of curry and chips.

Good buzz in Birmingham.

We’re off to the wrestling in Coventry tomorrow morning.

They were on in the evening, good support. 2 individuals in the final today.